Outerlands

‘Outerlands’ is a film that demands patience, rewarding viewers who approach it with the caution one might reserve for a wild animal. While the pacing may feel slow at times, it consistently avoids the pitfall of equating slowness with boredom, revealing its true character to those willing to invest their time and attention.

The performances by Asia Kate Dillon and Ridley Asha Bateman, were superb, and the city of San Fran provides a varied scenery. Interwoven between are hints to religious experiences, most likely though tainted by a negative connotation.

Overall, I loved that the story focused on a queer person in their entire identity and not just one facet (and used it as a flagship): one that usually goes hand in hand with intimate scenes that are lighted in the flags of the respective lgbtqia+ flag, shoving the symbolism down our throat, because queerness needs to be announced still. It cannot just be. This is what I thought while watching  a scene in which Cass starts making out with Kallie, their female coworker. After meeting in a laundr-o-mat their hookup starts by them being illuminated by a lilac glow up sign, which then cuts to them together in bed. 

Despite that happening, another thing struck me in that moment which was that I was surprised to see Cass and Kallie checking in on how this hook-up should go. And I am preaching to the choir here I know, but I guess what I want to say is that ‘Outerlands’ is also a wake-up call to show that despite amplified LGBTQIA+ representation in (mainstream) film; a scene in which a character asks their partner whether they want to have sex with a strap-on should be just as normalized as a scene in which characters are asking their partner where the condoms are right before a hookup. The vulnerability and intimacy of such an act needs to be inclusive experience.

Another thing that stood out to me in ‘Outerlands’ is also that it is a testament to the loneliness that ‘adult children’ (this description makes sense in the context of the movie, so go watch it) experience. They go out into the world, exist against the cruelty of everyday life, they’re supposed to have answers that they were never given, and still do everything they can to not make children feel the same pain of feeling non-existent, just as they were.

‘Outerlands’ feels new, in a variety of ways, I can only urge you to watch it and let yourself experience it.